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Mohawk/E2

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Conversing in Mohawk: Introductions

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Note: Spelling and dialects are what is used in Six Nations Territory (Ohsweken), Ontario

Shé:kon!1 Hello!

Oh nahòten í:se yesá:yats? What's your name? (lit. what are you called?)

Sawatis ní:'i yónkyats. My name is John. (lit. they call me Sawatis - Sawatis is a Mohawk version of "John".)

Nok ní:se? And you?

Wíhshe ní:'i yónkyats. My name is Mike. (lit. they call me Wíhshe - Wíhshe is a Mohawk version of "Mike".)

Oh káti ne raónha? And him?

Tawit ronwá:yats ne raónha. His name is David. (Tawit = David)

Oh káti ne akaónha? And her?

Wári yontátyats ne akaónha. Her name is Mary. (Wári = Mary)

Ka' nón:we nitisé:non? Where are you from?

Singapore nitewaké:non. I'm from Singapore.

Skennen'kó:wa ken? How are you? (lit. great peace)

Henh, skennen'kó:wa. Yes, I'm fine.

Yoyanerátye ken? How are you? (lit. is it going well?)

Henh, yoyanerátye. Yes, I'm well.

Nyá:wen.2 Thank you.

Ó:nen.1 Goodbye.

Notes:
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Í:'i Me, I

Í:se You

Raónha Him

Akaónha Her


1 Shé:kon and ó:nen do not literally mean hello and goodbye respectively, but is used to express as such. 2 Nyá:wen: It is considered etiquette for a guest, in finishing his or her meal, to say nyá:wen, to which the host responds: nyoh. Children are told that a failure to say nyá:wen will give them a stomach ache .

References F.W., Waugh (September 1991). Iroquois Foods and Food Preparation (Facsimile, 1973 ed.). Ottawa Government Printing Bureau. p. 47.